Kane Chamber honors outstanding citizen, business

January 27, 2012

By

Ted Lutz

The Kane Chamber of Commerce honored the late Jim Salvamoser as its "citizen-of-the-year" at its annual banquet Thursday at the Kane Country Club. Salvamoser, a community leader for many years, died unexpectedly last month.

The Kane Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet Thursday to honor its "citizen-of-the-year" and its "business-of-the-year."
Over 65 attended the banquet at the Kane Country Club and applauded the presentation of awards to the late Jim Salvamoser as the "citizen-of-the-year" and the Kane Eagles Club as the "business-of-the-year."
It was a bittersweet tribute to Salvamoser, a long-time community leader who died unexpectedly last month.
Marilyn Blackmore, one of several to nominate Salvamoser for the award, told the banquet crowd that she and the honoree "worked together" in various civic organizations such as the Kane Area Community Center, the Kane Rotary Club and the Kane Area Industrial Development Corporation (KAIDC).
"All of you have been touched by Jim's service," Blackmore said. She said Salvamoser's death "has left a large hole in the hearts of the community."
In a letter read by Blackmore, Connie Grenz said "people like Jim are the glue to the community." Grenz, former general manager at Kane Hardwood and recipient of the "citizen-of-the-year" honor last year, said "we have been blessed in Kane" by "one man's selfless actions."
Grenz said she presented Salvamoser with Rotary's Paul Harris Award. In her letter, Grenz called Salvamoser "a 'go-to' kind of guy with a keen sense of civic engagement."
Bob Walker, a former Kane businessman, said Salvamoser was known by mostÂ for his service on boards and organizations in the community.
"To me, he was my friend," Walker said. "I would call him for anything."
Jack Hedlund, a retired Kane school administrator, said Salvamoser was "truly a remarkable man."
At the time of his death, Salvamoser, 71, was serving his 16th year as a Kane borough councilman and as chairman of the Kane Borough Sewer Authority. A Vietnam veteran, he also was very active with the First United Methodist Church in Kane.
He served on the McKean County Assessment Appeals Board and was a member and past president of Kane Country Club. He also served on the board for Kane Community Hospital.

See full article by purchasing the Jan. 27 edition of The Kane Republican.